Bring Back the Beard

The off-season hot stove is heating up. For the Dodgers, it’s time to start making moves and scout new players to fill the holes on the roster. Many questions have surfaced about the team — linking them to almost every free agent player and wondering whether or not manager Don Mattingly would return. Mattingly will, in fact, be back. Who are the players he’ll be managing, though?

There has been lots of speculation about Dodgers trading valuable prospect assets for All-Star pitcher David Price, signing Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, or signing All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano. For the time being, though the Dodgers should put those moves in the back of their minds.

The key for the Dodgers to have a successful offseason begins and ends with one name — Brian Wilson. When Wilson signed with the Dodgers, it was basically an audition for teams to see how he could pitch after his injury and Wilson impressed. Wilson’s presence was a key to the Dodgers run into the NLCS. He posted a 0.66 ERA with a record of 2-1 in 18 regular season appearances and didn’t allow a run in three innings in the playoffs.

So what’s the problem? Wilson was great, so why is it so hard to sign him back? The primary answer is that Wilson wants to be a closer again and the Dodgers already have a good closer in Kenley Jansen. Many teams have expressed interest in Wilson and the Dodgers needs to do something about this fast. Wilson has interest and would stay in Los Angeles if he were to be paid closer-type money. I think the Dodgers should pay the man whatever amount he is asking for. If there is one team who can sink closer money into a player who isn’t a closer, it’s the Dodgers. Wilson has become a fan favorite already and having both him and Jansen at the end of the bullpen is a scary sight for opposing teams.

The Dodgers management needs to re-sign Wilson before making any other moves. He will be a key factor in this team trying for a title run. Winning close games is something you have to be able to do. Wilson will help to this end. Losing him would be a huge blow to a team that had bullpen problems last season. I say the Dodgers should pay the man and keep the rest of the National League West fearing the beard.